2015

"On a day-to-day basis I will be communicating with the client, and I was also fortunate enough to go on a client secondment."

Second year trainee, London

"I have daily client interaction, through phone calls and emails, and get responsibility to manage transactions."

First year trainee, London

"I have lots of client interaction. My day-to-day responsibilities include drafting, attending meetings, note-taking, having the first stab at re-drafting a document and research."

Second year trainee, London

"Trainees have great scope to become an integral member of the deal team in a transactional department. A large part of the job is transaction management meaning you have visibility on the whole deal and can assist partners who are concentrating on the details. Client interaction is to be expected in transactional seats, but not so much in Litigation."

Second year trainee, London

"I have had lots of client interaction on phone and email, and have attended occasional client dinners/closing dinners."

Second year trainee, London

"I have been given a great deal of responsibility and have attended a number of client meetings. If your supervisor/other associates see that you are trustworthy and work responsibly, they will allow you to have daily interactions with clients and will take you to most of the client meetings."

Second year trainee, Paris

"Although it differs between departments, I have had a lot of client contact via email and telephone. Secondees going to international offices also attend more face-to-face meetings, depending on the culture of that specific jurisdiction."

Second year trainee, London

2014

"Trainees get a significant amount of client interaction at an early stage, much more than some other firms. Good trainees will get as much responsibility as they wish to handle, (though some general admin tasks are likely, as per all trainees)."

Second year trainee, London

"There are many of opportunities to interact with clients, especially when joining a transaction from the beginning because you have a longer time to develop a good rapport with the client. I am frequently overseeing the process of a transaction and liaising with clients to obtain documents/signatures, etc."

First year trainee, Frankfurt

"In general, I have a reasonably high level of client interaction and stimulating work but this depends on the office in which you are based."

First year trainee, London

"As a first-seat trainee in Litigation and Dispute Resolution, I've worked largely on the same regulatory investigations. I have had minimal client interaction but it is interesting to attend interviews for the investigation."

First year trainee, London

"My role is consistent with what you would expect from a Magic Circle firm. Tasks can occasionally seem monotonous but that is offset by a high degree of client interaction and drafting responsibility, (if you want it and can prove you're able)."

Second year trainee, London

"I have recently been working on a deal where I have led client meetings and directly liaised with the client on a number of issues. The partners and associates are keen to trust you to manage aspects of transactions if you show a willingness to be involved in the deal and the ability to handle the work by completing smaller, ad hoc tasks to a high standard."

Second year trainee, London

"Responsibility is doled out in transactional seats if you are competent. I have met CEOs, CFOs, etc. and regularly meet and talk to clients. A lot of day-to-day is transaction management but you also get to do a lot of drafting of docs."

First year trainee, London

"Heavy daily client interaction, given own projects to run, high level of responsibility."

Second year trainee, London

"I have a lot of client interaction, leading smaller deals. Day-to-day responsibilities include drafting, reviewing leases, organising relating to deals, discussing issues with clients and the team."

First year trainee, London

2013

"Lots of client contact on certain matters. Great drafting experience."

Second year trainee, London

"Client interaction varies between seats and matters, but you will rarely be excluded where opportunities for client contact come up. Obviously, somebody needs to do the research and the first drafts, but this is how you learn and eventually someone else will replace you in this role as you progress!"

Second year trainee, London

"CC is great at recognising and promoting merit - once you've earned your stripes and proven that you are reliable/capable of dealing with clients, even as a junior trainee I was permitted to run my own side deals, interact directly with clients and be given substantial responsibilities. It quite simply boils down to you delivering on promises you make and the more you are able to, the more they will permit you to run your own show."

Second year trainee, London

"I am currently interacting with clients and local counsel offices a lot. The workload and variety of work will differ depending on what deal you are on, meaning that you can never predict what you are going to be expected to do. Additionally the level of responsibility given will depend on how much you want to receive. However, overall, the quality of work is of an extremely high standard and you will be surprised on how much the other lawyers and clients rely on you to produce good work - often with minimal supervision."

First year trainee, London

"A lot of client responsibility and quality of work progresses nicely across the seat."

First year trainee, London

"Very good quality of work. Less responsibility in some departments but mostly, if you are good enough to take things on, you will be given the opportunity."

Second year trainee, London

"My job varies according to what's going on. Transaction management will always fall to a trainee to do (a job which is harder than it seems to do well in) but there are also research and drafting tasks to get involved in. Recently, I have also drafted an internal publication and assisted in the drafting of an external publication."

Second year trainee, London

"Each deal that I am staffed on is top quality. Good trainees are trusted with high quality and challenging work, although there are always menial and time consuming tasks to be taken on as well."

Our 'Inside Buzz' reviews are the comments and views of recent graduate recruits, giving you a view of what it may be like to work for an organisation. Copyright of all TARGETjobs Inside Buzz material lies solely with GTI Media.

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